Giving makes up such a large component of the day-to-day operations at Holderness.

There are many ways to give to Holderness School, and the Sustain-A-Bull recurring giving program is a convenient, automatic way to ensure your ongoing support for Holderness on a monthly or annual basis. 

Here, we asked just a couple of our Sustain-A-Bulls to find out why they give to Holderness - and how you can, too.

Abbey DeRocker ’95
Sustain-A-Bull since 2019
Ganesvoort, New York
Assistant Director of Large-Scale Renewables Team, New York State Energy Research & Development Authority

A Quilt of Memories
There are so many memories of Holderness, it’s difficult to choose a favorite. The quilt of memories that I often return to are all about the incredible people that made up the Holderness community. This includes Coach Marty Elkins and Coach Paige and their lessons on the field hockey field and Marty’s teamwork approach/philosophy; family-style dinners with other students and a faculty member; Mike Henriques’ English class; David Lockwood and school-wide assemblies;, running into Coach Walker on the quad (“cut corners now and you’ll cut them later in life!”); Mr. and Mrs. Ford and their family and my first fleece vest; the Bartons as dorm parents in Sargent; and my roommates Amanda Knox Hoffman ‘96 and Jamie Gibbs ‘95. 

Balancing Structure & Independence
The structure and independence of Holderness were great for me and really pushed and challenged me to be the best version of myself and prepare me for my next adventure.  I wanted to take advantage of everything I could and even took Music Theory with David Lockwood my senior year – I had no business being in that class, sitting next to Franz Nicolay – but I loved it and was glad to have the experience. 

What Sustain-A-Bull Means
It’s an opportunity for me to continuously give back to the Holderness community a piece of what I have been given. It’s a thank you to the Holderness community, to all my teachers and dorm parents for their support, and hopefully it’s a small love letter to the next generation of Holderness community members. 

 

Charlie Day ’15
Sustain-A-Bull since 2022
Boston, MA
Professional Recruiter, Insight Global

Growth and Leadership
If you are lucky enough to attend Holderness, there is one thing for certain: you will grow. I was fortunate enough to attend Holderness for all four years, and there is evidence of growth through each year. Holderness provides the opportunity to lead right from the get-go. Year after year, Holderness has incredible leaders, in all classes. By the time graduation comes around, many will have had the opportunity to be a leader - whether it's leading a crew in pantry, being the leader of a dorm, being the captain of a sports team, performing a solo during a concert, performing in the musical, or leading groups during Artward Bound, Holderness constantly put us in situations where we had to lead. However, where I believe we grew so close as a respective class and school, was persevering through adversity with each other. Thankfully, Holderness wasn't easy. Doing hard things with the people you love is one of the most rewarding opportunities Holderness provides on a daily basis. 

What Sustain-A-Bull Means
Sustainable giving means providing opportunities for others that I was fortunate enough to have at Holderness. Holderness offers the best academics, athletics, leadership, and culture. Sustainable giving allows the school to invest more in the students, so they can excel while they're at Holderness and after they've graduated. 

Truly Every Dollar Counts
Giving makes up such a large component of the day-to-day operations at Holderness. It allows for everyone, from all corners of the world, to get the Holderness experience. It allows someone who's never touched a pigskin before, to strap on the pads and try football for the first time. It allows someone who's never enjoyed art class to fall in love with Ceramics. When we hear "every bit counts", it's natural to brush that off and not believe it, but in this case, truly every dollar counts. 

 

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Become a Sustain-A-Bull
Any donation – no matter the amount – is truly appreciated.  As a Sustain-A-Bill, we will charge your credit, debit, or checking account the amount you specify at the frequency of your choice.  It’s so easy to be a Sustain-A-Bull and so important to Holderness.  By setting up a recurring gift, you’ll be able to support what matters to you most at Holderness, today and in the future.  

Become a Sustain-A-Bull this Day of Giving – Thursday, February 16. Your recurring donation is an easy and convenient way to ensure your ongoing support of Holderness School.  And donors who become a Sustain-A-Bull on Day of Giving will receive a Holderness-branded Yeti tumbler. 

For questions or more information on Sustain-A-Bull giving, please contact Director of the Holderness Fund Darren Moore ’99 at dmoore@holderness.org